Just got a tow'd

[Gene-C]

My brother just got a tow'd. He found the serial number, and by doing a little research on this forum, I believe it deciphers like this: TO = Tow'd the next 3 numbers = production # Single letter = Month (A=Jan, B=Feb...) Single # 9 or 0 = year 1969 or 1970 last 3 digits = color. He found another set of numbers on a seperate tag that read: TEX102664. Does anyone know what these numbers are for? We would like to know it's history, can that be traced by serial number? He also wants to know what steps he needs to take to get it titled and licensed in Illinois. Any info would be helpful. One last thing does anyone know where we can get a manual?

[Reverb]

I don`t have the answers to your questions, but would like to welcome you to the boards. :hello: I`m sure somebody here has the answers you`re searching for.

[Gene-C]

I'm pretty new also, but here is a link to some info. Welcome!! Manx Site

[73SpeedBuggy]

TEX102664 sounds like a state issued VIN.. the VIN on my buggy is MICXXXXXX and was originally titled in Michigan.

[allen pierce]

First, welcome aboard, glad to have you as a member of this group. Well, in regards to...

One last thing does anyone know where we can get a manual?

There might have been an "assembly manual" when the original owner first purchased and built the Towd, but, that is probably long gone and I haven't seen anyone selling copies (like for a Manx) on Ebay. As far as other manuals, your Towd doesn't really use a beetle pan, but could use the running gear (engine, transaxle, & suspension from a beetle), so, here is a common one that you can find that would cover these items... How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive - A Manual of Step by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot, by John Muir. I've got one. Once you've read that from cover to cover, you'll discover that it is not that specific to your Towd (nothing will be), however, it will start you down the path to greater knowledge about VW engines, transaxles and suspension parts, maintenance, repair, etc. Nailing down the Official Volkswagen Service Manual (often known as the "Bently Manual"), might be a little hard, but, if you get the John Muir book and then check the engine number that could possibly tell you the year of the parts used in your towd. But, I have to tell you this is NOT a "for sure thing" either. It would be very easy for someone to use whatever parts they found, an engine from one year, a transaxle from another year, a rear suspension from another year, a front suspension from another year. And, this book is usually expensive ($35 or higher, new). And, I'm not sure you actually need one of these. Other books to build your knowledge... How to Rebuild Your Volkswagen Air-Cooled Engine, by Tom Wilson. Even if your not going to rebuild a VW engine, it is good reading to get into the knowledge base of how things work and what's possible. Baja Bugs & Buggies, by Jeff Hibbard. Even if your not going to do any of the things in this book, it's just plain good reading to build your knowledge. Books are cheap and good. Buy all you can find and then read them, owning them without reading them is where the waste is. Basically you need to get as much information as possible, as fast as possible, so, if you need to do "anything", you'll either be able to figure it out from the book help, or you'll be able to ask additional questions that are to the point. We like to help, so, have your brother read till his brain is full and ask lots of questions (of course you can do that, too!). Oh, on the history of your Towd... with the exact Towd ID tag info, you can contact Winnie (or Carol) at Manx Club Central via a phone call (find the contact info HERE) and ask her directly if this Towd has been in the ManxClub Registry. Seems like they don't have the email address on the contact page any longer, that's OK, they were always slow in responding via email, anyways. If the Towd was ever in the registry, they might be able to trace it back through the years. If it wasn't in the registry, they will ask you to register it. For... titled and licensed in Illinois, contact your Department of Motor Vehicles. I'm assuming that you have the title, a simple transfer of ownership. Some states require an inspection or other things if coming from out of state. If it hasn't ever been registered, I'd see about finding a "car hobby friendly peace officer" and shoot the breeze and eventually get to asking about street legality (maybe show him a picture of it). This can clue you into how things will go at the DMV and the officer may have some helpful hints. I see at least one Towd in Illinois, in my hard copy of the ManxClub Registry, don't know if it's street registered. And, lastly, if we knew where you are located (specifically, what city in Illinois), there might be a ManxClub member close by to come over and lend a hand. Now that I'm finished writing this article, my other computer says it's done compiling and it's time for me to get back to work.

[shaihulud]

I don't know where the problems with the Tow'd chassis are but I have read in several threads here that the chassis needs some gussets to strenghen it. Check your chassis and see if there are any cracks caused by very rough usage. If you strip it down ask around about what is reccomended that you do to fix the problem or else weld in some big fat gussets all over the place.

[newmanx59]

Where in Illinois are you located? I might beable to shed a little light on registration.

[Gene-C]

:hello: Wow, thanks for all the info. I thought I'd give a little background. My brother and my father both own 2 dune buggys each already (2 Unknown manufacturer and 2 Berry Mini T's). They've been making a living as VW mechanic's since the dawn of time, so VW assembly/disassembly is not a problem. The tow'd however, is ... ah ... unusual. We didn't get a title with the Tow'd. Which is kinda scarry, but I gather from this forum that many were never titled. My brother wants to make sure his isn't hot. I will suggest he have it authenticated by the Meyers Manx Registry. Forgive my ignorence, But who are Winnie, Carol, and Bruce? I've seen their names mentioned on this forum frequently. We live in the St. Louis metro east.

[Gene-C]

Read about them here. Manx History

[allen pierce]

Oops, sorry for all the details about learning about VW's. Sometimes I get verbose. Maybe it'll help someone else. You guys are experts already. You're probably on your own for more Towd information. Sometimes a source of secondary information is old copies of Dune Buggies & Hot VW's, late 60's, early 70's, find them on Ebay. I remember several regular articles about them and of course the advertisements can help, marginally, as well. Carol is not mentioned in the link above, she is Winnie's hired hand. Hey, enjoy that Towd, and the other buggies, too!

[Gene-C]

Obviously from Texas! Email / write the Texas DMV with the VIN #. They will tell you who it was LAST registered too, and if reported stolen.... If stolen..you just have to surrender the FRAME...nothing else...if you're smart... Most likely the "legal" owner wouldn't even be around any longer....or not care.... You DO have a "Bill of Sale" witnessed by someone? Surely you did this...since there was no other title!

[Gene-C]

Looking thru back issues of Hot VW's is a great idea. We have stacks. Maybe looking thru the '69 & '70 issues will have some helpfull info. If my image posting works, these are our buggies.

[Gene-C]

Here is a little info I've found on the internet. Another page on the Leapfrog, Towd clone maybe.... And the token shot of my old Towd...... I'm almost certain there used to be more Towd info on the Manx site, but I can't find it anymore???? Here is an album that has lots of Tow'd pics:

[croakintowd]

I saw you asking about Tow'ds and read the thread to see what was offered to you. Here's the deal on the VIN, stolen or not. Usually, the rear torsion housing is used from a donor VW, It bolts on using U-Bolts and a small tab to the upper rear shock mount. Being a VW guy, you know where the VW VIN is. Usually you cut enough of the tunnel off the donor to keep the VIN. If you have trouble registering it, and need a "Good" VIN, find a donor car and use the rear torsion housing (With the VIN) from it. It has been said that the tube frame will crack right at the weld where the rear torsion mount "extensiom" is attached. Some folks either add a gusset between the vertical aspect of the torsion mount and the horizontal aspect of the tube frame. To help orient you, this is about 8" down from the place where the roll bar attaches, on the underside of the frame, in the front. I'm pretty sure you have to pound your car hard to get it to crack, but I've heard of it. Also, someone mentioned that your VIN looks like a Texas State VIN. I think that guy is right. If you can't locate the VW VIN, Texas DMV probably assigned one to the car. Some states do that if the car is "Homemade". Hope this helps,

[Gene-C]

You think you have trouble sourcing info and parts ,you should try it over here in Australia where as the owner (me) has the only street registered Towdster in Australia and have only ever seen 1 other in all of Oz. Mine is currently fully apart for a full restoration .